Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1887-06-24
RELIGION In MEXICO.
Its Presiding Deitles. It's Sacred
Emblems; their Use and
Abuse.

That religion which has for its
rule of action the requirements oi
the ten commandments and the
principles of the sermon on the
Mount will always command oul
respect and that with out regard
to the name by which it may be
known. That which does not is {
fit subject for popular criticism
regardless of its name, professed
sanctity and the power it possesses
The dominant religion of Mexico
under thesmiss-nomer of Catholac.
isms unfortunately for this coun.
try and the cause of christianity
belongs to the latter class.
1t had its birth in the inquisto.
rial halls of Moorish Spain, was
bi fought over under the banner OF
the inquisition and forced upon this
people by means of fire and sword
in the hands of a merciless con-
queror. The lone towers, the
mouldering temples, and the de-
serted cities with their dark dun
geons and walls yet black with the
smoke of inquisitorial fires all
testify to the means used by the
soldier propagandists.
The Inquistion was establish
ed in Mexico about 1929 when
Jews and Moores were banished
from New Spain. The council
declared the Holy Office to be
necessary to keep the country free
from heresy. SO the tribunal had
full power and until 1915 heresy
against God, the Pope, and the
King was we'll trodden ucder foot.
1t was called the Strong Fort of
Zion. The City of Mexico was
the headquarters for all the 'Antos
de la fe," or the profession of faith
at the burning of heretics. The
"quemadero" or the burning
place was square platform with
wall and terrace arranged for the
erection of stakes to which the
condemned were tied when burn
ed. These were erected in an op-
en- space where the entire popula-
ton could witness the spectacle.
There were twenty-one persons
burned here at one time in 1874
and so on every year until about
1915. A writer Of that time says.
Though frequent these edifying
ceremonies were and large though
the number was of those who per
ished, yet the tribunal was merci-
full in as much that all but uncon-
fessed heretics and disturbers
against the ecclesiastical hierarchy,
profaners against the holy sacra-
ments and traitors to God and the
King and the Pope were strangled
before being burned. However
the ashes of all were considered
polluted and were cast into the
marsh. Among the records of
those who received the extreme
punishment was Thomas Trevino,
who was burned here 1S49 by a
slow fire because he cursed the
Pope and the Holy Office, yet the
tribunal which tried and condem-
ned him to be burned alive, was
counted merciful because they
passed him to his torturers with a &,
prefunctory command, ''to have i
mercy" Thus it is this miss
named and unchurchly church had
its rise and progress by principals
ont in harmony with the sermon
ON the mount. Hence it comes in
the range of popular censure.
Though its powers has been
checked and all its property confs-
Gated; yet too often its present
still long for scenes
of death. Thus we can see how
they get up bull-fghts for the ben
eft of the church. and gambling
can be made a principal part of
the greatest religious festivals in
the year, and how the souls saliva
ton can be bought with dollars
and cents; how prayers are vend-
ed and money boarded away by
the millions which has been
from the untutored In
dians through the sale of indulg-
ence. The church before the days
Of confscation owned five eighths
Of the nations wealth upon which
it refused to pay one cent of taxes.
With all, the church is yet re-
bounced for its wealth, and too
,ften for the life of luxury. In
and licensiousness led /
oy its priests and the extreme ig-I !
lorance, superstition, poverty and c
leprayity of its peone member
ihip. 1t has been the propagator
# every civil war that cursed the
country and to-day is the chief
# all the robbers in the land. 1t
s hot bed of aristocracy, a nest
f gilded vice with inmates more {
'ile than a nest of scorpions.
Its Presiding Deities rule over :
II the spiritual and temporal af- :
airs of its members. The Virgin =